March 17 update: The seventh and final stage of this year's T-A is up next. Michele Scarponi has likely won the race (barring a mishap) with his fine stage 6 performance. Stage 7 is pretty much a ceremonial stage with an easy loop and circuits around San Benedetto del Tronto. It will be worth checking out the end of this stage because there are many great sprinters still in the race. A nice sunny/clear although somewhat chilly day is forecasted. Here are your video options for stage 7. Bristish Eurosport will be broadcasting live at 2:45 PM CET after a thirty minute race recap starting at 2:15 PM CET. Eurosport France should be live. RAI Tre TV (Italy) will be broadcasting the last hour live. See the race summary table for links to the stage 7 profile, course map and timetable. — Steve

Stage 6 preview: Civitanova Marche → Camerino, 235k (hilly)

The uphill finish in Camerino should decide this year's Tirreno-Adriatico (photo: wikipedia)

March 16 update: This should be a good stage. It's very long -- 60k longer than any other stage at this year's T-A. Most of the route is rolling and hilly before the big climb of the day at km 192, the cat 1 Sasso Tetto. After the descent is some rolling terrain before the 4k upill finish to Camerino that has a 12% pitch near the finish. Astana's Andreas Klöden only has a six second lead over Columbia's Thomas Lövkvist. There is chance of rain earlier in the stage according to the weather forecast. Here are your video options for stage 6. Bristish Eurosport will be broadcastingl live (90 min) for the first time during the event now that Paris-Nice is over. Eurosport France should be live as well. RAI Tre TV (Italy) will be broadcasting the last hour live. See the race summary table for links to the stage 6 profile, course map and timetable. — Steve

Live Video Streaming and TV Coverage

March 13 update: A work in progress. Eurosport will have daily (delayed) coverage often after the live Paris-Nice coverage and live coverage for the final stages on Monday and Tuesday. The RAI schedule: "live every day on Rai Tre from 15.15 CET to 16.15, except on Saturday 14, when the broadcast starts at 15:55 and end at 17.00." Feel free to send in additional sources for live video or tv coverage as they become known. — Steve

Stage 4 preview: Foligno → Montelupone, 171k (steep uphill finish x2)

March 13 update: Phone the neighbors and wake the family dog, coming up is the Queen Stage of this year's T-A featuring the very steep Montelupone climb (see photo above)... done twice. Words don't do this climb justice so check out the photos and video from 2008:

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Yes, I know. The list of poll choices is too short. Not enough room on this dashboard is my excuse. Riders that should also be on this list: Thomas Dekker, Fabian Wegmann, Alessandro Ballan, Davide Rebellin and Ryder Hesjedal. I did put 1.5 Ardennes classic riders on the list! I'm going to roll my own poll widget next time so no one gets left off.

Stage 3 preview: Fucecchio → Santa Croce sull'Arno, 166k (flat)

Cycling's version of March Madness continues today with Tirreno-Adriatico overlapping Paris-Nice.

March 11 update: Stage 3 is the last of the three stages in Tuscany. Today's course profile is flat so there is no excuse to get dropped before the sprint finish in Santa Croce sull'Arno. Today's course map looks like spaghetti. Once again the weather forecast says there won't be a cloud in the sky, high 60F/14C. Here are your video options for stage 3. Eurosport will be broadcasting this evening. RAI Tre TV (Italy) will be broadcasting the last hour live. See the race summary table for links to the stage 3 profile, course map and timetable. — Steve

Cycling's version of March Madness continues today with Tirreno-Adriatico overlapping Paris-Nice.

March 11 update: Stage 2 is the second of three stages in Tuscany. Today's course profile is similar to yesterday's -- mostly flat with a few bumps and a decent climb over Monte Serra (at km 65) that gains 580m over 10km (that's 5.8% of course). I think everyone was surprised to see a break succeed on stage 1. I wonder how many riders are at T-A for training or to race. The weather forecast says there won't be a cloud in the sky again, high 59F/14C. Here are your video options for stage 2 (still a work in progress). Eurosport will be broadcasting on tv after Paris-Nice and live once Paris-Nice finishes on Sunday. RAI Tre TV (Italy) will be broadcasting the last hour live. See the race summary table for links to the stage 2 profile, course map and timetable. — Steve

Stage 1 Preview: Cecina → Capannori, 147k (flat)

Cycling's version of March Madness starts today with Tirreno-Adriatico overlapping Paris-Nice. Nicer weather in Italy for sure, but Paris-Nice always has lots of drama such as yesterday's stage 3.

March 11 update: Stage 1 is the first of three stages in Tuscany. It starts from Cecina, the hometown of Paulo Bettini. The course is mostly flat with a few bumps, one them 16k from the finish. Expect a full on sprint finish among the best sprinters in the business. The weather forecast says there won't be a cloud in the sky, high 60F/15C. Here are your video options for stage 1 (still a work in progress). Eurosport will be broadcasting on tv after Paris-Nice. RAI Tre TV (Italy) will be broadcasting the last hour live. See the race summary table for links to the stage 1 profile, course map and timetable. — Steve

The route is now official

Feburary 23 update: The route was officially announced in Florence today. All the host towns and links to the stage profiles, maps, and timetables are now active. (see table to the right). Like most one week long stage races, there is something old and something new with this route. The new is the start with three stages in Tuscany. The old is the start/finish in San Benedetto del Tronto on the last day. Also back this year is the wicked finish on Montelupone. Thanks to Andries Mussche for reminding me the official announcement was today. More to come... — SteveTirreno-Adriatico route unveiled — cyclingweekly.co.uk

The teams for Tirreno-Adriatico 2009 have been announced

Some big names intending to ride Tirreno-Adriatico

January 27 update: Being a flatter alternative to Paris-Nice, it's not surprising to here several marquee sprinters have Tirreno-Adriatico marked on their 2009 calendars; namely, Mark Cavendish, Daniele Bennati and Robbie McEwen. In addition to Bennati, Liquigas also have two other stars, Ivan Basso and Franco Pellizotti, penciled in. — Steve

Tuscany host cities; official announcement coming soon

January 24 update:
For the first time in its history, the Tirreno-Adriatico will begin with three stages in Tuscany. It all starts on March 11th in the province of Livorno from Cecina and finishes in Capannori, Lucca. On March 12, the race departs from Volterra and concludes on the promenade of Marina di Carrara. On Friday March 13th, the start takes place in San Giuliano Terme-Fucecchio and before heading to the finish in Prato.

From there the Tirreno-Adriatico will move into Umbria region (cities unknown) with the final host town being San Benedetto del Tronto again.

This year marks the 44th year of the event and although it's has become a very successful and popular event for it's owner La Gazzetta dello Sport, it is still overshadowed by the Giro d'Italia. So this year, a new advertising campaign has been launched promoting the race of two seas. There is now a new logo and a new website which will become active after the official route announcement is made from Florence (or Milan depending on the source) in a few weeks. If you can help fill in more host cities and other details then please do so. — Steve